The Grand Canyon is less than a day's drive from Phoenix. / Sony Hocklander/News-Leader

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Spring break for area school kids is just around the corner. If you have a big trip planned (say, with your high school seniors), it’s likely you have travel plans set already, and all that’s left is to shop and pack. (To parents who are acting as chaperones for any spring break high school trips, as one who’s been there, I can only advise you to get plenty of sleep now.)

If you have a family trip in mind with younger kids, you are no doubt researching what to do, where to go and how to budget. Though most of our family trips were in summer months, you never know when last-minute travel deals will pop up, and there are some easy destinations from Springfield.

One year we took our kids to Orlando, Fla., and Disney World parks (our only trip there). We found the book “The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World” to be very helpful and it saved us time and money. The year we traveled there, we also spent a day at Cocoa Beach, and we toured the Kennedy Space Center.

From Springfield, flying to the Phoenix area (as we do frequently to visit family) is also easy. From Phoenix, we have taken a number of road trips. One year we visited Sedona and its red rocks scenery with great hikes and views.

Another year — about this time of year — we went to the Grand Canyon, a drive that’s between five and six hours from Phoenix. We stayed for three nights at a hotel near, but not on, the canyon’s edge (which saved money) and had two-and-a-half days to explore. It was plenty of time for exploring and getting an overview — though we could have spent more days there. You can also drive to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas, another easy flight destination out of Springfield.

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Because we also have family in San Diego (where I lived as a kid), we often combine Southwest-destination trips and make the six-hour drive between Phoenix and San Diego. It’s an interesting drive with desert scenery so unlike the Midwest that it never gets old. But it’s sure hot — especially through Yuma — when we do it in the summertime. The reward is cooling our toes in the ocean at Mission and Pacific beaches near my brother’s house.

Most spring breaks, our family embarked on stay-cation fun. There are plenty of activities to do around Springfield and Branson areas, including Silver Dollar City, which opens for limited days this month — this year introducing the roller coaster Outlaw Run.

If your kids have never been to Fantastic Caverns, the Discovery Center, the Springfield 11 IMAX or one of the area’s indoor pools (including the new Doling Center Aquatics Center), put it on your calendar.

Several local organizations are planning activities for kids, including the Springfield-Greene County Library District, Springfield Little Theatre, Discovery Center and more. Checking out venues on the Hey, Mom! Birthday Party list is one good place to start at HeyMom.News-Leader.com.

Look for more spring break tips in next week’s Hey Mom! tab and Friday’s Life section.